The National Pulse

Brics health ministers have signed a declaration following a four day discussion. Among the things discussed, is the need to establish a Brics Nuclear Medicine, to reduce oncology diseases and improve the life quality of palliative care patients.. The ministers also agreed to build a TB research network to reduce the burden of TB in Brics member states. Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla says through...

We unpack the two-day national dialogue on collation governments that is currently underway in Cape Town. This as many of you are probably aware that since 2016, many coalitions formed in most metropolitan councils (City of Johannesburg, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay) continue to be unstable. So will this gathering coming up with concrete solutions? For more on this, we are joined by…..   GUEST: Dr...

Following the SIU’s announcement that President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the unit to investigate allegations of maladministration in the affairs of the office of the Premier in KwaZulu-Natal. Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube says her office will cooperate fully with the SIU - however, she has denied claims that she is being probed for wrong-doing, arguing that the proclamation clearly states that i...

In conversation with the leader of the United Zimbabwe Alliance, Elisabeth Valerio who will stand as the only female presidential candidate in the upcoming national election that is due to take place in three weeks’ time.   GUEST: Elisabeth Valerio, Leader of the United Zimbabwe Alliance

Eskom says one of its vehicles was torched this morning in Khayelitsha and they believe that the incident is linked to the ongoing taxi strike in the Western Cape. Following this unfortunate incident, the power utility has decided to suspend its services in Khayelitsha, Delft, Belhar, Du Noon, Phillipi and Fisantekraal. Joining us to elaborate further on this, is….. GUEST: Mbulelo Yedwa, Eskom Cap...

City of Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis has condemned the torching of busses and all lawlessness associated with the strike by taxi associations in the Western Cape. Taxi Associations resolved to go on a strike from today, pulling all taxis off the road until the 9th of August. Two buses were torched earlier and some taxis were driving at a snail pace on the freeway, causing traffic. SANTACO e...

Some scholars and experts have always argued that rising social and economic stresses have eroded public confidence in institutions of democratic governance around the world and perhaps even worse in Africa, hence we are witnessing several military seizures of power. But what’s really behind the recent spate of coups in Africa and what’s the role of external actors in fueling these coups and how c...

We celebrate Professor Hangwelani Hope Magidimisha-Chipungu after becoming the first Black woman in South Africa to obtain full professorship in the discipline of Town and Regional Planning”

Can you argue for invasion of privacy if visuals or photographs of you are taken while you are in a public place? Gojane from Kroonstad yesterday raised an issue about CCTV cameras installed by property owners for security reasons that film people walking or driving on public roads. He says it's an invasion of his privacy. But what is an invasion of privacy? We're now joined by Lerato Ntwampe, Soc...

Taxi associations in the Western Cape are going on a strike indefinitely. They have pulled their taxis off the road from today until the 9th of August. This is in protest against what they say is targeting taxi drivers by the government. A stand-off ensued between taxi drivers and law enforcement officers on Tuesday and yesterday. Taxi associations held a meeting today to decide on a way forward....

State witness Mthokozisi Thwala says the alleged intruders used English words when they demanded cellphones and money - but insists they were Zulu/ SeSotho speakers. Thwala is under cross-examination at the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, underway at the High Court in Pretoria. Five men are on trial for the murder of the Bafana Bafana soccer star, who was shot and killed in 2014, while at Kelly Khumalo...

The Electoral Commission is proposing that the deposit to be paid by parties challenging for seats in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures be increased by R100 000 for next year's elections. Those who wish to contest as independent candidates will also be affected by this latest proposal, as they will have to pay R20 000 per regional election and R15 000 for the provincial legislature...

The Botswana government has announced that its citizens can now travel across the border between Botswana and Namibia without the need for a passport. This as the two countries have signed an agreement that allows their citizens to use National Identity Cards as travel documents.   GUEST ON THE LINE (Botswana): Bakang Tiro, Reporter for the Patriot newspaper in Botswana

Cape Town taxi drivers and law enforcement officers had a standoff last night after some taxis were impounded, leading to an assault of a traffic officer. In another clash today, law enforcement officers fired shots and wounded a taxi driver who was allegedly riotous. What is the problem? We are now joined by Mandla Hermanus, SANTACO Chairperson in the Western Cape. 

The City of Joburg says it will cost R178 million to fix Lilian Ngoyi Street following the gas explosion two weeks ago. The city says this amount is an estimate and could increase as time goes. So far, the city has spent R4 million since the explosion. We are now joined by the City manager, Floyd Brink.

Afriforum’s Private Prosecution Unit says it will make an application to gain access to case docket the NPA used to get to the decision not to prosecute former sports Minister and ANC secretary Fikile Mbalula. The organisation says while it welcomes the decision by the NPA, it will make a decision once it has seen the case docket. We’re now joined by Afriforum’s Barry Bateman.

Today we celebrate Sergeant Keshi Mabunda, the police officer behind the arrest of serial killer Rosemary Ndlovu. Earlier this year Mabunda was awarded the Detective of the Year accolade at the SAPS national excellence awards for solving the Rosemary Ndlovu case. GUEST: Sgt Keshi Mabunda, SAPS Investigating Officer  

Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape operates on just seven of its 17 fire trucks. It needs an additional five functional fire trucks in order to meet the demands of its fire department. The shortage of fire trucks is an issue affecting the entire Eastern Cape province. Cogta MEC, Zolile Williams says the whole province needs 233 fire trucks to respond efficiently to fire rel...

Justice Minister Ronald Lamola is working on a bill that could clear the names of people who got criminal records for breaching have Covid-19 Covid-19 regulations. There are over 340 000 people who got criminal records for contravening lockdown rules between March 2020 and January 2021. The Judicial Matters Amendment Bill could see all those criminal records cleared. Parliament’s Portfolio Committ...

Former US President Donald Trump says his latest indictment is an attempt by the Biden Administration to interfere with the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Yesterday, federal prosecutors in the US indicted Trump for his role in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. However, despite all his legal woes, Trump remains a serious presidential candidate.   GUEST (UK): Professor S...

Some bad news for motorists. The fuel price is going up at midnight, unleaded petrol will be hiked by 37 cents a litre and diesel with increase by 72 cents.  This increase will bring the price of 95 unleaded petrol to R22.83 a litre in Gauteng. It cost R25.42 this time last year. The price of diesel will now be R20.21 a litre, this time last year, it cost R24.52. We’re now joined by Layton Beard,...

Western Cape’s MEC for Community Safety, Reagen Allen has condemned the murder of a LEAP officer in Mitchells Plain. Toufeeg Williamns was caught in a gang shootout while walking with his daughter. He was off duty when the shootout was happening and he got hit by a stray bullet. We’re now joined by Western Cape MEC for Community Safety, Reagen Allen

Build One SA has unveiled a list of the first 24 candidates who will stand for election to parliament and provincial legislatures under Bosa in 2024. The organisation opened its recruitment drive a few months ago and received five hundred applications from candidates who went through a selection process. It has now reveals its first 24, however, it is looking for 400 candidates. How does this mode...

The late release of dead bodies at the Hillbrow Mortuary has affected the business of undertakers in Johannesburg. Undertakers say the mortuary is keeping bodies in for way too long before releasing them to families. Some bodies had already decomposed by the time they were released. This is due to a shortage of pathologists to perform autopsies from people who died from unnatural causes. We’re bow...

South Africa continues to experience an increase in shack fires and related emergencies during these extremely cold temperatures. Earlier on today, four people died in two separate shack fires reported in the City of Johannesburg. Just this past weekend, six people died in a shack fire in Khayelitsha. City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi has urged South A...